Wow. You know tangler, I started a blog about a month and a half ago with some random thoughts/etc about grappling. I've thought similar things to you and have really tried to hold back on putting them on the blog simply because there's no possible way I can have a good understanding of something like this after around 3 months.

Sometimes you have nights when it's frustrating as everyone with any color around their waist makes you feel like a fish flopping on the mats trying to survive but there's one thing I come away with after EVERY roll where I get tapped, "if I was smart enough to figure this whole thing out already then the training would be useless...". Also, if I don't see a clear difference between me and the more advanced guys than this stuff doesn't actually work.

But you know what...EVERY single tap I could learn something. Every single second of misery under some 250lb sweaty dude is teaching me how to escape from that next time. At this point in our training man, I think it's just a matter of learning to survive...

As a small, feeble asthmatic learn to set traps and do things in combination rather than forcing one escape or submission. Develop a strategy to make the most of my strengths and disguise my weaknesses. Continue to identify and work on my weaknesses (and strengths for that matter!). Listen, I repeat listen to advice from others about my game and where they think there are gaps especially if they have proven it by tapping me. Plan - roll - evaluate. Repeat for the rest of your life. Oh, and STFU and listen.

I have been trying to do the above in a humble and honest way for almost 4 years I would not think to tell someone such as JNP he is wrong or hasn't considered something blindingly obvious. He's not and he has. Be respectful of those with more experience as you can learn far more from them than they will ever learn from you. So, to repeat, STFU and listen.

Purple or someone who can hang in the Advanced catagoery at a NAGA/GQ/etc

Maybe my timeline is off, but if you asked me I would think someone who trains 2-3 times a week for 2 years would be a high level blue belt. And I don't considered blue belt an advanced belt.

After two years of regular training and competing they should be at the point to get their purple. This does depend on the school and the intensity of the training however BJJ has evolved so much that blue belts today generally have to know way more than they used to to keep up competively.